Long-Term Health Investigations

There are many wildlife health investigation and management programs occurring in Australia at the moment. Two of the bigger, and more long-standing programs that involve native wildlife are the Save the Tasmanian Devil (STTD) Program and the Woylie Conservation Research Project.

Save the Tasmanian Devil (STTD) Program

The Australian and Tasmanian governments, as well as many people within
Tasmania, Australia and around the world are fighting to manage a
disease that is decimating populations of Tasmanian Devils: Tasmanian
Devil facial tumour disease or DFTD. This is a big, complex and
difficult project. More information on the STTD Program and the many
people involved is available by following the link below. Image of a
Tasmanian Devil with DFTD courtesy of Dr Menna Jones, DPIPWE.

Woylie Conservation Research Project

The woylie (Bettongia penicillata), or brush-tailed bettongs has declined by about 80% since 2001, with declines affecting populations in both Western Australia and South Australia. The declines are continuing in some areas and as yet there have been no clear signs of a sustained post decline recovery. Most of the remaining unaffected populations are small (<300 individuals), isolated and inherently vulnerable. The woylie was has been relisted as"fauna that is rare or is likely to become extinct" (Wildlife Conservation Act 1950). The cause(s) for these declines remains unclear.

The latest
information on the Woylie Conservation & Research Project is available by
following the links below. Image courtesy Dr Sabrina Trocini, DEC WA.